‘We just want to be heard’

“We just want our voices heard” – that was the plea this week from members of the New Horizons Partnership, who say they feel let down by the lack of amenities for people with learning disabilities within the local area.

The group, led by client facilitator Audrey Brown, spoke with the Chronicle on Tuesday regarding their concerns which include the lack of job opportunities, transport, housing and social outlets.

Audrey explained, “Everyone in this room is a hard-working, extremely capable person – all of whom just want to be heard and have their concerns listened to; they’re just as important a part of society as someone who doesn’t have learning disabilities.”

PLACEMENTS

Five members of the New Horizons group; Charles, Catherine, Corey, Aidan and Thomas all have placements in the community, ranging from Poundland to Dennet Interchange and McDonalds. Both Audrey and Client Services co-ordinator at New Horizons, Cormac Woods feel these placements are proof that people with learning disabilities are more than capable of making it in the working environment.

Audrey continued, “These guys are doing a job and doing it well but, aside from Corey who has secured a part-time job in McDonalds, they’re all placements. Is there something more that an able-bodied person is doing than any of our members? I don’t think so. In that case then they deserve a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”

Cormac agrees but he does admit there has to be something of a ‘carrot and stick’ approach for employers.

“I feel that there needs to be something more of an incentive for employers who may look at someone with learning disabilities as ‘not a part of the team’. I personally dispute that idea; our members may not be able to do all the tasks but all are still very capable of doing something, no matter how small. They are still part of the team and everyone here would like to see more employers embrace that idea.”

Aidan, who is currently on placement in Melvin, something he says he really enjoys, is pleading for more opportunities for employment. He said, “There are some placements available but even then, it’s so difficult for someone within the learning disabled community to get them. Ideally, more placements – hopefully leading to paid employment like Corey has said – should be the goal; there’s no reason we can’t do this.”

HOUSING

Another area about which Aidan is passionate is housing. Every member of the group, who still live in the family home, agree that they would love to be able to live independently or a least semi-independently. However a lack of local facilities prevents that.

He says, “I would love to live independently but I just don’t see it happening, at least any time soon. Iona House is probably the only place for me to do that. There was a place near where I live on the Curley Hill called the Gentleman’s House which was supposed to be earmarked for independent living but the company pulled out, so we’ve lost somewhere someone like me could go and live a semi-independent life. More places like Iona House would be welcome.”

Although New Horizons provides a place for people with learning disabilities to thrive, congregate, communicate and forge life-long friendships, possibly the biggest concern is that, once the doors close and the members go home in the evenings, there exists scant further outlets for social interaction. A lot of the group live in the outlying areas of Strabane, such as Artigarvan, Killen and Dunamanagh and that feeling of social isolation is very keenly felt.

Thomas, who lives in Killen, is passionate about the need for more social interaction outside of New Horizons. He said, “I really enjoy it here and I’ve made some great friends but, like many, once we go home at half past two, that’s all there is and, after a while, being on your own really affects your mental health. It’s not fair that, once we leave here, we have nowhere to go and socialise.”

Thomas who lives in Castlederg agrees, “It would be great if we had somewhere that we could go, like a hub somewhere where we can meet for a wee cuppa and a chit chat in the evenings or late afternoons, which would be especially good in the summer evenings.”

Co-ordinator Audrey added her hopes that a forthcoming meeting with Mayor Patricia Logue will bear fruit or at least open a conversation around the lack of facilities for the learning disabled in Strabane and surrounding areas.

“At the end of the day, people with learning disabilities are just as vital to the community as anyone else and their voices need heard,” she said. “A lot of our group feel that the politicians don’t care; I hope they can prove us wrong.”